My driver side door doesn't hang right. Rattles like heck. I can see daylight out the top corner.
Are their any adjustments you can make to the hinge, or do I just need to have it replaced. Any one else have this problem?
I'm new to the site....lots of good info here.
Is there a search feature?

Thanks_Rich '96 Bronco

 

You should be able to replace the bushings in the hinges. Not sure if that would move the door up enough or not, but it should get it going in the right direction anyway. I have not done this myself, so I wouldn't be much help in the how-to area unfortunately.

 

You can change out the hinge pins and bushings without removing the door, but it's easier to do the job with the door off. MotorMite makes a kit (which should be available at most parts stores) which requires you to first cut the old pin in half (I've done the job with the door on the truck on an F150 using a Dremel tool and cutoff wheel). After cutting the pin, you can use a drift punch to knock out the halves as well as the stock bushings, replacing the bushings with new ones in the kit and replacing the pin with a replacement that uses an e-clip for retention. As mentioned, you can do one hinge at a time if you have a helper to hold the door, and you won't need to remove it. However, the job may be easier with the door (and hinges) off of the truck. Should you go this route, remove the fender first, marking its position along the attachment points under the hood. This will allow access to the door hinges at the body. There are adjustments at (1) the hinge attachments to the body, and (2) the hinge attachments to the door, itself. Between these, I'm sure you can get the door tweaked to your satisfaction. At any rate, I'd start with taking the steps to renew your hinges, as mentioned in the earlier post. Once these are tight and to spec, your adjustments will actually become worthwhile. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the replys. Great reply there Restorit. I think I will try to find that kit and give it a go.I do alot of beach driving [surf fishing] between April and November, so I would like to get it done before springtime. The beach driving is not too hard on the truck, but those access roads beat the he...err..heck outta it

 

Glad to help..... best of luck with it! As I recall, the hinge pin kits are about $7 each. You can also adjust the door striker (it takes a larger Torx bit) by loosening it and moving it around. A couple of items I'll add: If you get into adjusting the door yourself, it can be done alone. I would recommend supporting the forward bottom door edge with something like a couple of milk crates, wood blocks, and a scrap of carpet (to protect the lower edge). A bottle jack or small scissors jack (again with carpet) works well for the back edge, allowing small up and down movements. Open the door just enough to eyeball its position, as well as the striker's, and adjust from there. When you're getting to where you're happy with the door, and need to move the striker (if at all), keep one small fact in mind. The door hinges, even newly bushed ones, will have about 1/4" to 3/8" of up and down play in them. That is, if you use the bottle jack to raise the bottom edge (of the rear of the door) up to where you're happy with it, and tighten the bolts, you will remove the jack and crate(s) and find that the rear edge of the door now hangs slightly low. Use a strip of masking tape along the door's rear edge, and jack the door up into position. Tighten the bolts, and mark the truck body with another stitch of tape to line up with that on the door. Lower the jack, and observe the distance the door has settled. Mark this with a pen on the tape, loosen the bolts, and once again jack the door into position, this time going higher with the back edge a distance equivalent to the drop observed. Retighten the bolts and remove the jack. This time, the door will have "settled" into a perfect position, after the play has been taken into account. Adjust the striker so that the door latch just rests on it, and so that it holds the door firmly closed against the weatherstrips. Oh, and one more thing..... on the forward edge of the inside of the door, right along the vent window area where the body weatherstrip makes contact is a small recess made to accommodate a bolt head. Be sure the door is positioned far enough forward in the opening so that this recess does not allow a gap between the door and weatherstrip. It's easy to overlook, and you'll wish you had noted it the first time it rains (don't ask me how I learned this!) Take care!